Technological Advancement
By Preston Young, MBA
As a recent college student and a young individual living in the age of rapid technological advancement, I have witnessed firsthand how technology has changed every aspect of our lives, leaving a permanent mark on society. It was fun looking back on and asking my parents and grandparents how they lived without cellphones and the internet. The power of technology and the impact it has had on our lives is incredible, I dive more deeply into that here.
In my parents' and grandparents’ era, communication was limited to landline phones and handwritten letters. The way in which we communicate has undergone a massive transformation. The rise of smartphones and social media platforms has revolutionized the way we connect and share information. We can stay in touch with loved ones, connect with friends across the globe, and access information in real-time with one click of a button. The barriers of time and distance have been shattered, bringing people closer together than ever before. Between FaceTime and Zoom calls, you can be anywhere at any time and have a conversation as if you’re standing right next to each other.
Technology has also revolutionized the educational system as well. Gone are the days of flipping through dusty encyclopedias in search of information. Remember searching for a book at the library in the card catalog? Do they even teach that anymore? Today, a world of knowledge is just a few clicks away. Online courses, virtual classrooms, and educational applications have made learning more accessible, flexible, and personalized. As a graduate student during Covid, I witnessed the transformative power of technology in my own education, from interactive lectures to collaborative online platforms. Even now with meetings, we are able to work with anyone across the globe and have online virtual calls.
How about what technology has done to our homes? Smart home devices, such as voice assistants and automated systems, enable us to control our houses, offices, and garages with ease. If this sounds unfamiliar to you, I recommend you watch a video on what a “smart” home is. You name it, it can be automated, with a click of a button from your own cell phone! Wearable health technologies have the potential to monitor vital signs, track physical activity, and provide timely medical assistance. Have you seen that Apple Watch commercial walking us through different drastic events? without having to do anything, your watch is automatically calling 911.
Technology has transformed the entertainment landscape, making what use to be a night at the movie theater, now a night on your couch. Dare I even mention Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)? These allow us to explore new worlds and indulge in interactive entertainment. Video games have evolved into a form of art and storytelling, even allowing us to feel like we’re right in the game, rather than playing on a screen.
While technology has made remarkable advancements, there are certainly downfalls. Between children having access to things they shouldn’t have access to, online ‘bullies’, cyber security, and much more, we’ve been posed with challenges that deserve attention.
I am astounded by the transformative power of technology and its impact on our lives. It’s something that is difficult to realize is happening right in front of our eyes unless you take a step back and reflect how different the world is today. In Disney, there is a “ride”, (more like a 25-minute break from walking) but it’s called the “Carousel of Progress” and it takes you through how life was in 1900 to how life will be in many years in the future. Between that and Paul and I having conversations on how we can transform our office, I’ve realized how different we live today, and how different we will be living 20+ years from now.
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